Agitator mechanism for washing machines



Aug- 31, 1937- R. J. wATl-:RWoRTl-i 2,091,402

AGITATOR MECHANISM FOR WASHNG MACHINES Aug. 31, 1937. R. .1. WATERWORTH AGITATOR MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1936 PatentedI Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES AGITATOR MECHANISM FOR WASHING Y MACHINES Robert J. water-vanua, Sidney, ohio Application October 8,

2o claim.l

This invention relates to washing machines and pertains particularly to improvements in the agitator mechanism thereof.

In washingmachines of the types at present in use, the agitators therein, or the means by which the clothes in the tub are thrown back and forth, produce a washing action on the clothes only around the wall of the tub and no washing action at the center of the tub is had. There is thus formed what `\might be termed a lzero point in the washing effect of theagitator upon the clothes.

'Ihe present invention has for its primary object to provide an improved agitator operating means whereby a definite washing action of the clothes will be had at the center of the tub in addition to the customary outside and nearcenter action which is now obtained with the conventional washer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved agitator operating mechanism by which the clothes in the tub will be caused to pass back and forth from one side of the tub to the other across the center of the tub in a path which substantially describes a figure eight so that in addition to the water action upon the clothes there is obtained a massaging or scrubbing action upon the same as they pass over the agitator and as they reverse their motion at the sides of the tub. A

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a washing machine an improved agitator operating mechanism therefor whereby the agitator will be caused to perform a combined horizontal and oscillatory movement and a reciprocatory movement in the tub.

A still further object of the invention is to provide agitator operating mechanism therefor whereby there is obtained a constant reciprocatory movement and an oscillatory movement in a horizontal plane having constantly varying extent of movement transversely of the tub.

The invention will be best understood from*- a consideration ofthe following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention-as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through an agitator and the operating mechanism therefor constructed in accordance with the present invention, the agitator mechanism being shown in operative position relative to the bottom of atub,

1930, SerialNo. 104,722

Fig. 2 is' a horizontal section on the line 2--2 r Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating al modified arrangement of the gears and connecting means between the same and the agitator unit whereby the constantlyr varying horizontal oscillatory motion of the unit is obtained.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate two of the positions assumed by the agitator operating mechanism during the course of operation of the same by the modified arrangement described in connection with Fig. 7.

Fig. illustrates diagrammatically the motions of the tips of a four-blade agitator when operated by gears of unequal tooth ratio.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I designates the vertically sectioned portion of the center part of the bottom of the tub upon which the agitator mechanism is mounted. 'I'he central part of the tub bottom is provided with an opening 2 and overlying this opening and disposed at the underside of the'tub bottom is a casting comprising a circularplate 3 which is separated from the tub bottom by a gasket 4, and which has formed integrally therewith the upwardly extending sleeves 5 which project through the opening 2 into the interior of the tub. A reinforcing annulus 6 is placed upon the inner surface of the tub in concentric relation with the plate 3 and suitable securing elements such as rivets 'I 'are passed through the annulus 6 and the plate 3 to maintain the parts in assembled relation. These rivets or securing elements also function to maintain in position against the underside of the plate 3 a gear casing 8 to which reference will be made hereinafter.

Theunderside of the plate 3 is provided with a recessed boss 9 for the reception of an end of a drive shaft I0 and adjacent this boss the plate has formed therein the aperture I I in which is secured one end of a stub shaft I2.

The housing B is formed to receive in itsbottom or horizontal wall the other end of the stub l shaft I2, as illustrated in Fig-4, and is also provided with a bearing opening I3 through whichA the shaft I0 extends to the outside of the housing y gear pinion I which meshes with the larger gear I8 which rides freely upon the'stub shaft I2. Integral with the gear I8 isa pinion I1. This pinion meshes with an overlying gear I8 which 5 in turn meshes withl the ge r I8 which is disposed in a common plane therew th.

The gears 'I8 and I8 are secured respectively to the vertical shafts 20 and 2| whichpass upwardly through the sleeves 5 through the packing mate- 10 rial 22, as illustrated in Fig. l.' By means oi' the material 22 and the packing nuts 23, the shafts and 2| pass out of the upper ends of the sleeves 5 into the interior of the tub and water is prevented from flowing from the tub down l5 through the sleeves and leaking out. n

At their upper ends the shafts 20 and 2I carry the crank arms 24 and 25,'the same being secured to the vertical shafts in any suitable manner, as by the cross pins 28.

The numeral 21 designates a link by which the cranks 24 and 25 are coupled and this link as shown is provided with the longitudinally extending slot 28 and at one end with a pin receiving aperture 28. The aperture 28 receives a crank- 28 in the link has mounted therein a slide block 35 34. In this block there is pivotally engaged the -upper end of a crank pin 33 which is carried at the free end of the crank arm 24.

The agitator is indicated generally by the numeral 35, and this comprises a circular plate 38 in the central part of which is formed the downwardly opening box or housing 31. Extending over and across this housing 31 which is of elongated rectangular formation, as shown in Fig. 2, are the vertically disposed right angularly related fins 38.

The link 21 is provided with suitably threaded apertures to receive securing screws 39 which are passed through the top of the housing 31 and which firmly secure the link in the housing and against the underside of the top thereof, as shown in Fig. l. l

In the illustration of the invention as set forth in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the gears I8 and I9 are of the same number of teeth, and in assembling the parts the cranks are first disposed substantially in the relation illustrated in Fig. 2. In this relation the cranks when being rotated will not pass over the center line at the same time. When power is applied thru-the drive shaft I0, the gears I8 and I9 will be simultaneously rotated in opposite directions and while the pivot pin for the crank 35 will remain fixed with relation to the link 21, the pin 33 will move longitudinally of the link with the block 34 in slot 28. 'I'his will impart to the agitator unit 35 a -combined horizontal oscillatory motion in the tub and a reciprocatory motion. In other words, the motion of the agitator'is always a cycle of angular movement across the center of the tub and repeat and, where an agitator is .employed which has four fins as shown, the tips 'of those tins or blades which are parallel with the ink 21 describe a substantially quarter-moon o tline as indicated by the numeral 40 in Fig. 5, and the center of the blades where they join describe elliptical paths,

, as indicated at u.' The tips or the other two blades describe the distorted figure 8 outlines, indicated by the numeral 48' and the centers where these other two blades or fins 'cross also describe similar figure 8 outlines as indicated Itis also contemplated within the scope of the present invention to eilect a variation in the oscillatory' reciprocatory movement of the agitator by substitution of gears of unequal tooth ratio for vthe gears I8 and I9.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, there are illustrated diagrammatically several positions which the connecting link 21 between the cranks will assume in the actuation of the agitator by coupling in the place of gears I8 and I9, gears of unequal tooth ratio, In substitutinga gear having one more or one less tooth than its mate, it will also be necessary to substitute crank arms of shorter length so that thesame can pass without having their ends meet. Referring particularly to Fig. '7, let the outline indicated by the numeral I8' represent a gear of thirty teeth and the outline I8 represent a gear of-32 teeth. The cranks 24' and 25' correspond to the cranks 24 and 25 previously described but are shorter so that their .ends may pass, as illustrated in this ligure. The link is indicated by the numeral 21. In starting the gears will be assembled so that the long ends of the cranks will be in opposed relation as shown and the agitator and link are placed in position p so that the link will b e parallel with the alined cranks. It will be apparent from this that when the gears I8 and I 9' start to rotate, the first movement of the link will be a circular reciprocatory movement, but since the gear I8' has less teeth than the gear I9' it will rotate slightly faster than the larger gear so that the free or outer end of the link 21 will gradually swing in an arc of constantly increasing extent transversely oi the tub as it performs a reciprocatory movement. Whenthe smaller gear has rotated rela--rvl4 tive to the larger gear to the point where thev i crank pin associated therewith will have advanced a quarter revolution-when the pin of the largergear is in starting position, the link 21' willassume the position shown in Fig. 8 so .thatfitsupper end .will be describing a very wide arcU-m transversely of the tub, and when the pin of the ,fe

smaller gear has advanced three-quarters ofthe 1 way ahead of the pin of thelarger gear, the link t will assume the position shown in Fig.- 9. vIt will be understood that from the starting positionof Fig. 7 through the two positions shown in Figs. 8 f

and 9, and back to the starting position, the free end of the link willhave gradually increased the extent of its arcuate movement to a maximum point and then come back to the. position where it started, as shown in Fig-7.

While I-have referred particularly toa gear tooth ratio of 30-32, it will be` understoodthat any desired unequal -ratio may be Aemployed-,so

that the rapidity of the agitation maybe increased or decreased asdesired.

The class of agitation produced by the unequal ratio of gears is from a transverse oscillatory motion to the angular across-,center motion as a peak, and then back down to the transverse osy cillatory, after which the cycle will be repeated,` and if, for instance, theggears I8 and I9 have that this gives water action across the tub similar to a rocking tub. The dashing actionacross the tub carries the clothes in a wide vertical ilgv tent floating about and turning over of thev lo clothes. With a tub full of clothes this agitation changes the relative positions ofthe gar.

ments, passing them one over the other, and they not only get the eilect of being rubbed against one another and the outer sides of the tub. but they are rubbed by the agitator blades and the bottom of the tub as they ilow in the ilgure 8 path described.

In the diagram constituting Fig. 10 there are illustrated the four circular areas l2, 42', 43 and 43', which represent the motion of each of the four tips of the blades 38 when starting to operate the agitator with gears of unequal tooth ratio, assuming that the same is started' with the parts related as illustrated in Fig. '1.v If'tracer points were placed at the tips'of each of the four blades, there would be obtained figures as shown in this diagram, therefore the complete blade or iin which parallels the link 21" moves transversely of the tub between the lines 44 and' the other blade will move between the lines 45. The blades have an endwise movement equal to twice the radius of one throw of the cranks 24', 25'. After considering the movement for one revolution or a part thereof there begins a change of :15 figure or pattern until the tips of the blades reach a peak in their movement; of quarter-moons and distorted figure 8s similar to the diagram form-- ing Fig. 5, whereupon they will then return to the figure outlined in Fig. 10. 40 I Claim: I

1. In a washing machine including a receptacle Y having a bottom, an agitator unit therein pertive relative movement simultaneously with ro-l tary movement imparted by the driven members and moving the agitator constantly in a, plane 50 paralleling said bottom.

2. In a washing machine including a receptacle having a bottom, an agitator unit therein permanently disposed in close proximity to the bottom, a pair of elements between the unit and 5,-, said bottom' and mounted for rotation in a common plane paralleling said bottom, means for rotating said elements, and coupling means between the elements and the agitator so constructed and arranged that upon rotation of the (-,0 elements the agitator will be given simultaneously an oscillatory and a reciprocatory movement.

3. In a washing machine including a receptacle,

an agitator unit therein, a pair of elements mounted for rotation inf/'a common plane, means 05 for driving said elements, and coupling means be-y tween the elements and the agitator constructed and arranged to give to the agitator a reciprocatory movement and a simultaneous oscillatory motion the extent of which is constantly and c 70 progressively varied from a minimum to a maximum.

4. In a washing machine including a receptacle, an agitator unit therein, a pair of elements mounted for rotation in a common plane, means 75 for simultaneously oppositely rotating said elements, a pivotal coupling between one element and the agitator and permanently located relative to the agitator, and a pivotal coupling between the other element and the agitator which v is slidable to move relative to the agitator during its rotation.

5. In a washing machine including a-receptacle, an agitator unit therein and maintainingl a permanent spaced relation with the bottom of the receptacle, a pair of crank elements mounted for rotation in a common plane which parallels the bottom o! the receptacle, driving means roand receptacle bottom.

6. In a washing machine including a receptacle, an agitator unit therein and maintaining a permanent spaced relation with the bottom of the receptacle, a pair of crank elements mounted for rotation in a common plane which parallels the bottom of the receptacle, driving means rotating the elements in opposite directions, va pivotal coupling means between the elements and the agitator, the said elements with which the agitator is connected being between .the agitator and receptacle bottom. and one only of said couplings also being slidable.

"I. In a washing machine including a receptacle, an agitator unit therein, a pair of crank elements, the agitator having a part lying over the elements, driving means rotating the cranks in opposite directions, means forming a pivotal connection between the agitator and one crank, means providing a guide vslot which is movable with the agitator, and means carried by the other crank element having sliding and pivotal engagement in said slot.

8. Ina washing machine, including a receptacle having a bottom, an agitator unit therein in relatively close permanently spaced relation with said bottom, a pair of cranks arranged for rotation in a common plane which parallels said bottom and having a part of the agitator lying thereover, means for imparting rotation to thev cranks in opposite directions andat the same speed, a pivotal connection between the cranks and the overlying part of the agitator, and means whereby one oi said connections is reciprocated in the plane of rotation.

9. In a washing machine including a receptacle, an agitator unit therein, a pair of cranks arranged for rotation in theV same plane' and having' a part of the agitator lying thereover, means for imparting rotation to the cranks in opposite directions, means imparting a diieren-v tial speed of rotation to the cranks, a pivotal connection between the cranks and the overlying part of the agitator, and one of said connections being adapted for reciprocation in the plane of rotation.

10. In a mechanism of the character described, including a receptacle having a ilat bottom, an agitator in the receptacle and lying in close proximity to said bottom, a pair of vertical shafts, means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions, a crank upon the upper end of each shaft, the cranks being positioned to rotate in a common plane parallel with said bottom, a pin carried by each crank, said agitator having a'portion formed to provide a downwardly opening casing for housing the cranks, means pivotally coupling one pin with a top wall of the agitator casing l permitting relative movement of the same in a horizontal piane, and pivotal coupling means between the other pin and the said top wall ofz said casing which is fixed against such relativemovenient.

11. In a mechanism ofthe character described, including a receptacle havinga fiat bottom, an agitator in the receptacle lying in close proximity to said bottom, a pair of vertical shafts, means for rotating the shafts; in opposite directions, a

l crank upon the upper end of each shaft, the

12. In a washing machine including a receptacle, an agitator unit disposed within and adjacent the bottom of thesame, a pair of elements mounted for rotation in a' common plane which e parallels said bottom, means for driving said elements, and coupling means between the elements f and the agitator so constructed and arranged as to give an oscillatory motion to opposite extreme parts of the agitator in a plane paralleling said receptacle bottom and a simultaneous reciprocation of the same in said plane.

13. A mechanism of the character described, comprising a pair of directly coupled gears, means for imparting rotary motion directly to one gear, the other gear being driven by the said one gear, a crank carried by each gear, an agitator, and coupling means between the agitator and said cranks, one of said couplings being slidable relative tothe agitator.

14. In a washing machine, an agitator, a receptacle within the lower part of which the agi-y tator is permanently housed, mechanism supported by and at the underside of the receptacle for transmitting power movement to the underside of the agitator within the receptacle; and means coupling said mechanism with the agitator for causing the agitator to maintain a constant reciprocatory movement over the bottom of the receptacle and to simultaneously oscillate on an axis perpendicular to said bottom.

15. In a washing machine, an agitator, a receptacle within the lower part of which the agitator'is permanently housed, a pair of relatively movable members coupled with the agitator and so constructed'and arranged as to effect oscillatory motion of the agitator in constantly repeated cycles each of which comprises a plurality of oscillations progressively increasing from a minimum to a maximum degree of movement and simultaneous reciprocation of the same, and means for delivering driving motion to said members.

16. A mechanism of the character described, comprising a pair of toothed gears having toothed connection, means for imparting rotary motion directly to one gear, the other gear being driven by the said one gear whereby the gears have opposite rotation, a crank carried by each gear, an agitator, and coupling means between the agitator and said cranks, one of said couplings being slidable relative to the agitator, and said gears being of unequal tooth ratio.

17. Inv a washing machine having a fixed receptacle having4 a at bottom, a pair of short shafts extending, vertically in parallel relation thru said bottom, a wheel upon each shaft, saidwheels being coupled 'directly one with the other for opposite rotation, means for imparting rotaryv movement to one wheel, a crank upon each shaft within the receptacle and in a plane common to .one another and parallel with the bottom, an agitator lying in the receptacle in close proximity to said bottom and covering said shafts and cranks, apivotal connection between both cranks and the agitator, and means whereby vone of the said pivotal connections has sliding movement relative to the agitator.

18. In a washing machine having a fixed receptacle having a fiat bottom, a pair of short vertical shafts extending vertically in parallel relation through said bottom, a wheel upon each shaft, said Wheels being coupled directly one with the other for opposite rotation, means for imparting rotary movement to one wheel, a crank upon each shaft within the receptacle and in a plane common to one another and parallel with the bottom, an agitator lying in the receptacle in close proximity to said bottom and covering said shafts and cranks, a pivotal connection between both cranks and 'the agitator, means whereby one of the said pivotal connections has sliding movement relative to the agitator, and

said wheels being of unequal circumferential ratio speed than the other.

19.In a washing machine having a fixed receptacle having a fiat bottom, a pair of short vertical shafts extending vertically in parallel relation through said bottom, a wheel upon each shaft, said wheels being coupled directly one with the other for opposite rotation, means for imparting rotary movement to one wheel, a crank upon each shaft within the receptacle and in a plane common to one ano-ther and parallel with the bottom, an agitator lying in the receptacle in close proximity to said bottom and covering said shafts and cranks, a pivotal connection between one crank and the agitator, there being an elongated slot at the underside of the agitator at one end of which said pivotal connection is located, and an element carried by the other crank and disposed in said slot to have oscillatory movement and reciprocatory movement therein.

20. In a washing machine having a receptacle witha .hat bottom, an agitator in the receptacle having a hollow body portion opening toward the said bottom and upstanding integral blades, the said body being in closely spaced relation with said bottom, a gear mechanism housed beneath said bottom and under said body to receive power from a power source, and mechanism housed in the hollow body and coupled through said bottom with the gear mechanism which is so constructed and arranged that said body and blades will have imparted thereto upon actuation of the gear mechanism a reciprocatory motion in a plane paralleling said bottom and simultaneously an oscillatory motion about an axis perpendicular to said bottom.

ROBERT J. WATERWORTH. 

